Fluid power engine



NOV. 8, 1938. p H CRARY FLUID POWER ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1936 P. H. CRARY FLUID POWER ENGINE Filed March 17, 1936 Nov. 8, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 29 g l5 0 Q IZ I 9 I0 I i 5" /////////////////'7/////////////////////////lI/M/ll/M P41118676, Ural? Y az vim 5W Patented Nov. 8, 1938 PATENT OFFICE FLUID POWER ENGINE Palmer H. Crary, Miami, Fla., assignor oi' fifteen per cent to William F. A. Buelmer, Miami, Fla.

Application March 17, 1936, Serial No. 69,408

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fluid power engines, and particularly to an engine of this character intended and adapted to be operated by compressed air, compressed gas, or other suitable fluid under pressure.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an engine structure with which the intake and exhaust intervals are automatically controlled by means actuated by the intake supply of the operating fluid, and with which the interval and amount of supply of the operating fluid can be timed and spaced to meet the requirements of use.

Another object is to provide an engine of this type having a single and common inlet and exhaust port or passage or opening for each cylinder, and to provide means by which said port is controlled to function accordingly upon power and exhaust strokes of a piston within the cylinder.

A further object and purpose is to so construct and mount the parts that the working elements are of simple and inexpensive construction, readily manufactured and assembled for use,

and easily accessible to be disassembled for adjustment, repair, replacement, and any other servicing operations.

Still another purpose is to provide an engine having a rotary distributor structure by which the supply of operating fluid to several cylinders is controlled and to provide means whereby the length of the fluid supply interval and the amount of power fluid can be controlled.

With the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent to those skilled in this art, my invention includes and embodies certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing one construction and embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the engine structure.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken transversely through the upper portion of the structure.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the distributor.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation to better show the distributor rotor.

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of the rotor case to show adjusting means.

The engine structure, in the adaptation illustrated in Figure 1, is shown as being oi the fourcylinder type, but it is to be understood that a greater or lesser number of cylinders can be employed. As here shown, the engine cylinder block I is mounted on crank case 2, and the crank shaft 5 3 is journalled in suitable hearings in this crank case, a balance or fly wheel 4 being mounted at one end on said crank shaft 3, and a sprocket wheel 5 being also mounted on the crank shaft.

The cylinder block I has the desired number of 10 cylinders 6 formed therein, and a piston 1 is fitted for reclprocatory movement in each cylinder opening, a connection rod 8 being fitted between each piston and one of the cranks of crank shaft 3. The parts as hereinbefore described can be of 15 any desired construction, form, arrangement and assembly, and the crank shaft and other parts can be provided with suitable anti-friction bearings, as may be found desirable. In the dotted line disclosure in Figure 1 I have illustrated the 20 engine structure as being of the four-cylinder type, with the pistons acting in paired relation, the two middle pistons being paired together and the two outer pistons being paired to move on power and exhaust strokes simultaneously. This 25 pairing of the pistons requires corresponding arrangement and disposition of the crank portions on the crank shaft 3, and also it will be necessary to time intake and exhaust intervals or cycles correspondingly. In some instances it may be 30 found practicable and desirable to time and associate the various parts so that the power strokes of the several pistons will be equally spaced for a complete revolution 01' the crankshaft 3, and obviously other arrangements can be made. 35

A cylinder head 9 is mounted to close the upper end of each cylinder opening 6, and the cylinder head has a combination exhaust and intake port, passage, or other opening Ill formed therethrough in direct and full communication with the head 40 end of the cylinder opening 6. A valve casing ll mounted upon the cylinder head 8 by means of cap bolts or other suitable fastenings, has a fluid passage 12 formed therethrough and communieating with the passage I0 opening through the 45 cylinder head. This valve casing II has a horizontal valve cylinder bore l3 therein and a fluid inlet passage [4 extends substantially in line with the valve cylinder opening it. This fluid inlet passage I4 is of relatively smaller diameter than 50 the valve cylinder opening l3, and a tapered valve seat I5 is provided within the cylindrical opening I3 at the discharge end of the fluid inlet passage II, A cylinder slide valve l6 slidably fitted within the valve cylinder opening ll has its inner end 55 closed and is provided with a tapered shoulder I1 adapted to fit and close against the correspondingly tapered valve seat I5. This cylinder slide valve I5 is made of such length that when the valve is closed against the seat I5 the skirted rear end clears and opens a part of the end of passage I2 in communication with the valve cylinder opening I3, and a fluid exhaust passage I8 provided through the wall of the valve case II is also so spaced and located that it will be opened when the valve I5 is closed against the seat I5.

A head I9 is provided to close the open end of the valve cylinder opening I3, and a valve stem 20 connected at one end with the valve I6 is slidably fitted through a suitable orifice in this head I9. A coiled spring 2| is fitted around the valve stem 28 to be between the head of the valve I8 and the cylinder head portion I9, and this spring serves to normally hold the valve I6 in the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the inlet passage I4 is closed by the valve I6, and the exhaust passage I8 is opened. As air under pressure is supplied through the inlet passage I4, the pressure against the head end of valve I6 'will slide said valve inwardly against the resilient force of spring 2|, and the head end of the valve will be removed from the seat I5 and will be moved in to clear the passage I2 to place the same in direct communication with the fluid inlet of intake passage II. This same movement of the slide valve I6 will carry the skirt portion thereof over the exhaust opening I8 to thus close this opening and prevent the escape of fluid from the valve casing.

Air, gas, or other suitable operating fluid under pressure can be supplied from any desired source, but in the present instance I have illustrated a compression pump 22 operated by an electric motor 23, or other suitable power drive, supplying air or other compressed fluid to fluid pressure tank 24. A safety valve 25, and any other suitable and desired control and safety means can be associated with this pre'tsure tank, and a pressure supply pipe 25, controlled by valve 21, is provided to conduct the pressure power fluid to the engine, through a distributor to be hereinafter more fully described.

A distributor case 28 is drical side wall 28 and made up of the cylinthe heads or ends 30 and 3|, this distributor case 28 being mounted and held in the proper position by a bracket 32 carried by the engine structure, or by any other suitable support. A distributor shaft 33 is fitted and journalled in suitable bearings provided in the casing heads 38 and 3I, this shaft being sub stantially centered within the cylindrical body portion 29. A sprocket'gear 34 is provided on a shaft 33, and a sprocket chain 35 is fitted over the sprocket wheel 5 on the crank shaft 3 and over this sprocket wheel 34 on the distributor shaft 33, so that the distributor is rotated in' proper timing and synchronism and ratio with the crank shaft. The pressure fluid supply pipe 25 connects to supply fluid under pressure directly into the case 23, preferably through one end of the case, and it is desirable that stufling boxes, pack- Ing glands, or other suitable pressure fluid leakproof portions 38 be provided around the distributor shaft 33 to confine the pressure operating fluid within the distributor case. An adjusting and cut-ofl' control sleeve 31 is mounted within the tubular body portion 29 of the distributor case 28, and is fitted for oscillatory or rocking movement. Such movement of the sleeve 31 can be accomplished through a handle or lever 38 movable through an arcuate slot in one of the heads of the distributor casing.

The body portion 29 of the distributor case has an opening 39 formed through the wall thereof substantially in line with the fluid inlet or intake passage I4 of each valve casing II, and a fluid tight conducting connection is made from the opening 39 to the corresponding valve casing II, through a connecting nipple 40, or through any other desirable and suitable connecting means. The sleeve 31 has slotted openings 4| formed through the wall thereof substantially in line with the openings 39 through the body of the distributor casing as connected with the inlet or intake passages I4 of the respective valve casings II, and as indicated in Fig. 4, it is preferable that these openings M be elongated substantially circumferentially so that as the adjusting sleeve 31 is oscillated or partly rotated through the medium of handle 38, these openings 4| will fully open the passage through openings 39, or will partly close or completely close these openings 39, the illustration in Fig. 3 disclosing the sleeve in position to close the openings 39 and consequently cut ofi the supply of pressure operating fluid to and through the inlet passages I4.

Mounted revolubly within the sleeve 36, and connected to rotate with shaft 33, is the distributor sleeve 42. This distributor sleeve is of hollow construction and is adapted to receive uninterrupted and unobstructed flow of pressure liquid as supplied into the distributor casing through the pressure fluid supply pipe 26. The distributor sleeve 42 has fluid supply openings 43 formed through the wall thereof substantially in line with the openings 39 of the body portion of the case 29, and as illustrated in Fig. 5, the openings 43 are suitably spaced around the periphery or circumference of this sleeve 42 so that the openings 43 will register with and pass the position of openings 33 at the desired time when fluid under pressure is to be supplied to each of the cylinders. In the present instance I have shown the distributor shaft 33 driven to rotate at substantially the same speed as the crank shaft 3, and with the pistons of the several cylinders paired in the manner set forth above, the openings 43 will be formed through the wall of the distributor sleeve or rotor 42 substantially in the relation illustrated in Fig. 5. These openings 43 can be substantially circular or can be elongated for any desired distance around the circumference of the sleeve 42, depending upon the length of injection or fluid supply time desired. Where the opening is substantially circular or relatively short, the interval of time of pressure fluid introduction will be correspondingly short, and where the openings 43 are formed as elongated slotted openings extending around a part of the periphery or circumference of the sleeve 42, the time of fluid introduction will be proportionately lengthened. The control sleeve 31 regulates the size of passage available through the openings 39 and this sleeve can also be employed to cut oil the supply of pressure fluid to the engine. The distributor rotor or sleeve 42 is constantly operated at a flxed speed and ratioduring operation of the engine, and the exact time or interval of pressure fluid introduction is thus governed and determined or fixed. However, this period can be advanced or retarded by setting drive chain 35 a tooth ahead or back upon the sprocket wheel 34. or a change in timing can be accomplished through adjusting the position of the sleeve or rotor 42 on the distributor shaft 33, or this adjustment can be accomplished in any other desired way.

In the use oi my improved fluid operated power engine, the fluid under pressure will be supplied from pressure tank 24, or from any other suitable source, through pipe 28, and thus operating pressure fluid fllls the distributor case. When the adjusting sleeve 31 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the supply of operating fluid to the engine is entirely out ofl, and in order that the engine may operate it is necessary that this sleeve 31 be turned or oscillated sufliciently to bring the opening ll into position to establish a passage through opening 39 and connecting nipple Ill into the intake passage ll. As the crank shaft 3 is then slightly rotated, by hand or in any other desired manner, the distributor sleeve 42 is correspondingly rotated, and the openings ll thereof. will come intocommunication with the passages through openings 4! and 39. The pressure fluid then rushes through these openings into the inlet passage I4, and the pressure against the head of valve l6 slides this valve back to close the exhaust port l8 and to open communication from inlet passage i4 through the passages l2 and Ill, and consequently permit direct flow of the operating fluid under pressure into the cylinder opening 6. As this operating fluid bears against the head oi piston 1 the piston is moved upon its power stroke and the crank shaft 8 is rotated. when the opening or passage 48 of the revolving distributing rotor or sleeve l2 passes beyond-the opening ll, the supply, of operating pressure fluid to inlet passage I is cut off, and as the pressure is removed from the head of sleeve valve l8, spring 2| again moves this valve to the closed or seated position, as shown in Fig. 3, and at the same time opens communication from passage I2 directly to the exhaust passage Ill. The interval of pressure fluid introduction or-qintake is pref.- erably sufliciently long to give a maximum power impulse on the power stroke of the piston I, and the valve l6 will then be shifted by the spring 2| to open communication to the exhaust port or passage i8 substantially at or before commencement of the up-stroke o! the piston so that back pressure is reduced and the dead pressure oi. the spent or exhausted operating pressure fluid is forced out through the exhaust passage i8.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a fluid power engine adapted to be operated by any desired pressure fluid, and which is of simple and inexpensive construction, with few parts likely to become worn or otherwise injured from use, that the control of the engine is readily accomplished through simple and easily accomplished adjustments oi the distributor, and that the engine as thus constructed can be readily started and stopped and can be operated at any desired speed and with any desired power, to give a flexible and readily and completely controlled power unit. By adjusting the sleeve 31 so that the opening ll therroi has its end in communication with either the upper or the lower part of opening 39, the relative time of supply of operating pressure fluid can be somewhat varied.

While I have herein shown and described only certain speciflc embodiments of my invention and have suggestedonly certain possible modiflcatlons, it will be appreciated and understood that many changes can be made in the form.

construction, arrangement, assembly and use oi the parts, as well as in the adaptation and embodiment oithe various features, to suit different requirements or installation and use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A fluid operated power unit comprising, a cylinder provided with intake and exhaust and having a piston therein, a connection supplying operating fluid under pressure to the intake of said cylinder, valve means to control and time the supply of operating fluid, and valve means normally opening the exhaust from the engine and closing the fluid intake, said second valve means being moved to intake opening and exhaust closing position during the time of supply of operating fluid as controlled by said flrst valve means.

2. A fluid operated engine comprising a cylinder having a combination intake and exhaust opening, a piston reciprocably fltted in said cylinder, a power shait operated by movement of the piston, a valve casing fitted at said opening and provided with separate intake and exhaust, a pressure fluid supply connection to the intake oi said valve casing, a valve fitted to said casing normally positioning to open the exhaust and close the intake through said valve casing and moved by the supply of pressure fluid to open the intake and close the exhaust, and means operated from the power shaft to time the supply of pressure fluid.

3. A fluid operated engine comprising, a cylinder having a reciprocating piston therein and provided with a combination fluid intake and exhaust opening at its head end, a crank shaft rotated by movement of said piston, a valve casing mounted at the combination opening of the cylinder and provided with separated intake and exhaust, a fluid supply connection to said inlet, a valve in said valve casing, and spring means normally holding said valve in position to open the exhaust and close the inlet and to resiliently permit movement of the valve to open the inlet and close the exhaust, and valve means to, supply pressure fluid at spaced intervals through the supply connection to the inlet.

4. A fluid operated engine comprising, a cylinder having a combination intake and exhaust opening, a piston in said cylinder, a power shaft operated by movement of said piston, a. valve casing fltted at said opening provided with a cylindrical internal opening having separated exhaust and intake passages opening thereinto, a valve slidably fitted within the cylindrical opening of the valve casing and movable to one position to close the intake and open the exhaust and to a. second position to close the exhaust and open the intake, means to normally hold said valve in intake closed and exhaust opened position, and timed means to supply power fluid under pressure at desired power stroke intervals through the intake opening to close the exhaust and open the intake into said cylinder to thus supply motive fluid at desired power intervals.

5. A fluid operated engine comprising, a cyli'nder, a piston reciprocably fitted in said cylinder, a power shaft rotated by movement of said piston, a valve casing at the head 01 the cylinder provided with intake and exhaust passages leading to the cylinder, 9. pressure fluid supply con nection to the intake passage or the valve casing, a piston type valve in said casing reciprocable to alternately open and close the intake and exhaust passages, spring means normally holding said valve in position to close'the supply passage to the cylinder and open the exhaust passage from the cylinder, a rotary distributor valve at said pressure fluid supply connection to alternately open and close the same for the supply of pressure fluid to unseat the valve in the valve casing to open the supply passage to the cylinder and close the exhaust passage, and an actuating connection from said power shaft to rotate and consequently open said distributor when the piston is adjacent to the supply and exhaust end of the cylinder.

6. A fluid operated engine comprising, a cylinder, a piston reciprocably fitted in said cylinder, a power shaft rotated by movement oi said piston,

a valve casing at the head 01' the cylinder provided with intake and exhaust passages leading to the cylinder, a pressure fluid supply connection to the intake passage of the valve casing, a piston type valve in said casing reciprocable to alternately open and close the intake and exhaust passages; spring means normally holding said valve in position to close the supply passage to the cylinder and open the exhaust passage from the cylinder, a rotary distributor valve at said pressure fluid supply connection to alternately open and close the same for the supply or pressure fluid to unseat the valve in the valve casing to open the supply passage to the cylinder and close the exhaust passage, an actuating connection from said power shaft to rotate and consequently open said distributor when the piston is adjacent to the supply and exhaust end of the cylinder, and means to cut oil the supply 01' pressure fluid and to control and vary the amount of pressure fluid supplied through the supply passage upon opening of the fluid supply control valve.

PALMER. H. CR-ARY. 

